Improvement in hitching-posts



v WARD.

Hitching Post.

Patentd Ju ne-5,. 1866;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VALENTINE WARD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HlTCHlNG-POSTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,445, dated June 5, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VALENTINE WARD, of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Hitchin g Posts called VVards hitching-posts; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being bad to the accompanyingdrawings, making a part of this specification,in which the same letters indicate like parts in each of the figures.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing the shaft extending from the socket. Fig. 2 is also a sectional elevation Fig. 3, a top view.

The nature of my invention relates to the construction of a hitching -post having a wroughtiron shaft with a ring on top, the shaft being incloscd in a box of iron or other \material, sunk underneath the pavement, where it remains out of sight when not in use. When needed for hitching purposes it is pulled up out of the box by means ofa ring, and kept in position by a spring placed near the lower end of the shaft, which catches on the edge or side of the box.

In the drawings, A,Figs.1and 2, represents the outside box or shell of the post, which may be constructed of iron or other material, hollow or open at its base, and extending upward nearly to the apex, which is constructed nearly solid, leaving space, however, sufficient to allow the shaft B to easily play up and down in the socket.

Bis a shaft of iron or any other material that will answer the purpose, and may be ornamented ifdesired, having a collar, C, which, when the shaft is raised, tits closely against the joints D D, to prevent its being drawn completely out of the socket. The collar may also add to the strength of the shaft.

A spring, E, is placed near the base of the shaft B, which flies out, when it is lifted up to the desired height, into a recess or groove on top of the shell or socket. In place of the spring a pin may be used, falling into a slot or depression placed on the rim of the shell, to prevent the shaft from being lifted upand turned around by the animal, and allowing the shaft to fall back into the socket.

G, Fig. 3, represents a plate or shield of iron fastened to the top of the post by means of bolts, flanges, or any other well-known device.

H is a ring or other device for hitching, placed through the shaft near the top.

Should a heavier and larger post he desired, the shaft B may be raised by means of cords and pulleys with weights, the weight passing up and down the inside of the column through grooves.

Some of the advantages of my hitchingpost over others may be stated as follows: By

placing them underneath the sidewalk or pavement they are completely out of the way, and not liable to be run against by carriages or pedestrians, for when not in use the spring is pressed in with the hand or foot, or the shaft turned to the slot, if a pin be used, when it drops down into the box or column, exposing nothing to view but the top of the post and ring, by which means it can be again raised for use.

Having thus described my hitching-post, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The post or shell A, sunk underneath a sidewalk or pavement, having an extension shaft or bar, P, to be drawn from or inserted in said post or shell at will, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The spring E, or its equivalent, when arranged as above described, or by weights and pulleys when a larger post is desired, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 23d day of December, A. D. 1865.

VALENTINE WARD. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

G. W. M. SMITH, J 0s. MosHEnvrER. 

